Fourth grade teachers can reserve a possible guided-tour at San Gabriel Mission while tours are available.

The mission does its best to get volunteer docents (tour guides) for fourth-grade classes that visit the mission church, museum, and gardens. Because the tours are popular, and there is a limited number of tour guides, it’s suggested that teachers call mission’s gift shop soon to make reservations for 2011 and 2012.  The best time to call is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Tour times when available are 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. and possibly later for schools traveling a long distance, on Monday through Friday.  Admission prices, the same since 2003, are $3 for age 6 through 17, $5 for age 18 through 61, and $4 for age 62 and older. There is no extra charge if a docent is available to give a guided tour.

The old Mission church, museum, gardens and gift shop are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 359 days a year. The gift shop features the newly-published book about San Gabriel Mission, more than 30 books about missions in California, the updated San Gabriel Mission building foam kit and accessories, maps and other mission souvenirs.  All areas are closed New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, and are open 9 a.m. to noon on Christmas Eve Dec. 24.

Free self-parking for cars and buses is available on a first-come basis in the church lot at the intersection of Mission Road and Junipero Serra Drive in San Gabriel. The address is 427 S. Junipero Serra Dr. and the telephone number is 626-457-3048.

San Gabriel Mission was founded on Sept. 8, 1771 as the fourth oldest of 21 missions in California.  The Roman Catholic parish has more than 70 active groups that speak either English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog (Filipino) or Chinese.